What is Filipino about that picture?

It was my Japanese colleague – who is just as much a Filipino – who told me that the Japanese think Filipinos are very kind. Just don’t put them behind the steering wheel, and do not put them in Congress.

Truth is, it’s not hard really to make our kind the punching bag for faults. It is safe to say we’re not very good in queuing, especially on the road, and especially those public utility vehicles. You see a lot of litter being thrown on the streets, into rivers, and even from moving vehicles. Corruption and bribery are still hard habits to break, along with the rest of the other bad habits blamed on more than 300 years of colonization.

Our former lady chairperson and name partner has a favorite quote that is quite formative. She would share: “Attitude, not Aptitude, determines Altitude.” Probably for many, the mold has set and hardened, way past the time when something else could have been done.

For the country’s young, however, the opportunities for positive influence are still abundant. It is PwC Philippines’ 95th anniversary, and one of the projects we launched during this milestone is a Filipino photo story contest among all college and high school students nationwide. It is about capturing pictures that speak volumes about Filipino values – from their eyes, from their lens. With more than 500 entries to date, and just from the summer school break, we are confident we will be able to publish a book that our Department of Education will hopefully adopt in the value formation subjects for the nation’s very young kids in school. If they grow with the right heart, our country will be in a better place.

Allow me to share with all my readers some of these titled pictures, which are also incidentally now recognized as being on top of the list of the contest that’s still ongoing.

Barefooted happiness, by Rozezema Eustacio of Lyceum of the Philippines-Cavite, has three young kids, apparently coming from the poverty line, with generous smiles while running uphill, as if racing barefooted. They probably never knew baby shoes that squeak or light up, or roller shoes, and even simple rubber shoes. The picture tells you that you can take from them that standard of living, but you cannot deny them the quality of their joy. They have no toys, no gadgets, but they have so much joy because they have friends.

Lola’s boy, by Christine Elviña of Far Eastern University Manila, is an image of a young adult grandson who seems to be now employed, visiting his Lola, and they enjoy and reminisce about Lolo, too. They are so relaxed and happy by the stream, as if no time was lost since they last met. It shows you that the special Filipino bond between a grandchild and a grandparent is deep and never wanes. Dance with my father again, by Hazel Castillo of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is a photo of a fine lady in her wedding dress having the last dance with a grey-haired man that seems to be her father. While the man is all tearful with joy, he is not the father but her tito (uncle). “I am sorry I cannot help my tears, you are so beautiful. I am sure wherever your father is, he is so proud of you.” “I sure miss my father a lot, but thank you, tito, for being here.” Indeed, the extended Filipino family fills the gap and eases the pain.

Wedding Anniversary, by Veronica Claire Lim of San Beda College-Alabang, shows a couple during their 39th wedding anniversary. The elderly but vibrant lady feeds her elderly but very eager spouse a huge bite of cake with icing. The simple restaurant doesn’t matter to their day, and never mind his blood sugar issues. It is happy, endless love. You can work hard and have everything, but in the end, one’s greatest gift will be having someone to grow old with. Aeta’s meal, taken by a member of our staff, is of a small young Aeta boy from Zambales who tasted spaghetti for the first time. Midway through his meal, he stopped and started walking. “Don’t you like it?” we asked. He replied that he likes the white noodles when mixed with the red sauce. “Why did you stop eating?” we prodded. “I will bring this home to my brother so that he can taste spaghetti too...” How can we indeed stay fed and happy when our very own brother goes hungry?

So much to share, so little space. The contest is still open. Ask your children to send entries to our website (pwc.com/ph/ourvalues-photostory) or email them to me. Did I say a picture speaks a thousand words? I may have underestimated it. Happy Sunday, everyone.

** * Alexander B. Cabrera is the chairman and senior partner of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines. He also chairs the Tax Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP). Email your comments and questions to aseasyasABC@ ph.pwc.com. This content is for general information purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisors.